Oscillating steam-engine



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM VOOD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

OSCILLATING STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,057, dated January 5, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM Woon, of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oscillating Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which# Figure l, is a side view of an engine with my improvements, shown as having the cover of the steam chest taken off, and the eduction pipe taken away. Fig. 2 is a section of the cylinder, steam chest, and valve for induction and eduction of steam, taken in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and through its axis of oscillation. Fig. 3, is a transverse section of the cylinder, steam chest, and induction and eduction valve, exhibiting also sections of the induction and eduction pipes. Fig. 4, exhibits the face of the valve shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in the employment of a treble-armed, centrally-balanced valve, substantially as hereinafter described.

A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is the cylinder, having two solid trunnions a, al, which are fitted to work in bearings b, b1, supported on the bed-plate K, in the usual manner.

B C, is a steam chest, bolted by bolts o, c, to one side of the cylinder, and near the ends thereof, and so formed as to stride across the outside of the bearing b1, of the trunnion, a. This steam chest is in the form of two sectors of circles described from a center in line with the axis of oscillation of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 1. In the back part B, of the steam chest, or part nearest the cylinder, there are two ports d, d1, leading one to each-end of the cylinder.

D, is the valve by which the induction and eduction of the steaml is effected; said valve extending across the interior of the steam chest, and fitting to two seats e, el, in which are the ports d, d1. The valve is made entirely hollow, with three arms f, f1, fi, two of which, viz., f1, ff, are faced to lit to the seat el, and the other f, is faced to t to the seat e; and these arms have each one port, communicating with the hollow interior of the valve; the said ports corresponding in size with the ports d, d1, in the steam chest,

and occupying such a position relatively to the axis of oscillation, that the oscillation of the cylinder will bring the port g, of the arm f, into communication with the port d, and either the port g, of the arm f, or that g1, of the arm f1, according to the position of the valve, into communication with the port all, for the purpose of exhausting the steam from the cylinder through the interior of the valve to the eduction pipe E, the inner end of which ts to the valve opposite to the trunnion al, as shown at s, s, Figs. 2 and 3, with a steam-tight joint. The valve is stationary, except to reverse the engine. The eduction pipe is also stationary. The valve is kept in place by a stud t, at its oenter, fitting to a seat or bearing in the back of the steam chest, and prevented turning by a square on the said stud, fitting to a corresponding square in a lever H, which is locked in a stationary condition when the engine is in operation, but is capable of being moved to shift the valve, to reverse the engine. By having the valve D supported centrally by the stud (t), it is prevented from an undue bearing at its ends upon the valve seat. The stud (t) thus serves as a central fulcrum or balance point for the valve D.

F, is a stationary box, surrounding the eduction pipe, for the purpose of receiving the live steam from the induction pipe I, and delivering it into the steam chest B, C. This box is surrounded by a passage z', with which the induction pipe connects; and between this passage and the interior of the box, there is av screw stop valve y', Fig. 3, which serves to shut off, and, if desired, to regulate, the supply of steam.

The operation of the valve, and its appurtenances, is as follows :-The oscillation of the cylinder uncovers the ports d, d1, alter'- nately, and allows steam to enter from the steam chest; and as one of the said ports is uncovered, the opposite one is brought into communication with one of the ports in the valve, to allow the steam to exhaust through the valve.

In Fig. 1, of the drawing, the port d1, is shown to be entirely uncovered, and the port d, to be in full communication with the port of the arm f, of the valve; the ports of the valve being all shown in red outline; and consequently the piston is moving to the left, and the crank rotating in the direction of the arrow shown upon it. The piston is now at halfY stroke. As the motion continues, the port all, passes under the port m1, of the face of the arm f1, of the valve, and is thereby gradually closed; while, at the same time, the port cl, passes under the port m, of the arm f, of the valve, and is thereby gradually closed; both ports being closed by the time the engine arrives on its center. As the engine passes its center, the port all, movesupward under the port g1TV and commences exhausting; and the port 0l, moves downward from under the port m, of the face of the arm f, and commences taking steam; the port d1, beingvfull open, and the port d, being in full communication with the exhaust port, g1, when the engine arrives at the middle of the stroke; after which the port-Z moves up under the port m, of the valve, and commences closing, and the port 6X1, moves down under the port m1, so that both ports are again closed at the end of the stro-ke; but after the engine again passes the center, the port (Z1 again commences opening, and the port (l, commences to make communication with the exhaust port g. It will be understood that during the above described operation, the arm f, of the valve,

and the face m2', of the arm f, are of no use; but if the valve is turned, by means of the lever I-I, a distance equal to twice the width of the ports d, d, taken in a circumferential direction, the arm f1, of the valve, is thrown out of operation, and that fl, thrown into operation; and the port 9*, and face mit, of the arm ft, are caused to operate relatively to the port d1, asthe port g1, and face m1, previously did, and the face m2, of the arm f, to opera-te relatively to the port d, as the face m, previously did, and the port g, to operate just the reverse; by which means the direction of the engine is changed. The lever H, is secured in either of the necessary positions by springing yinto notches in a stand J.

When an engine is made that is never required to be reversed, its cost may be reduced by making the valve with two arms only. The construction of that valve, however, needs no particular description, as it will be essentially the same as the valve D, with one of the arms f1, or f, omitted. When the valve Yis made in that way, itA may be cast with the eduction pipe E, if desired, as it never requires any motion.

I do not claim the exhaustion of the steam through the valve; nor do I claim broadly the attachment of the steam chest to the cylinder, to oscillate therewith, and operate in combination with a'stationary valve.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let? ters Patent, is

The employment of a treble-armed, centrally-balanced valve, D, substantially as herein described.

ADAM woon. 

